System and method for provisioning a single physical drop to accomodate multiple devices

ABSTRACT

A method and system for allowing a plurality of devices at a physical drop to receive access to video and/or data services from a plurality of video/data service providers in a digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication services provider utilizes a broadcast manager, in communication with the video/data service providers, for transmitting an electronic message in a modified format determined by the telecommunication services provider, wherein the electronic message contains information identifying the physical drop, a type of the device being provisioned a the physical drop, and a maximum number of devices for the device type allowed to receive corresponding service at the physical drop. A broadband digital terminal, in communication with the broadcast manager and the physical port, is programmed to receive the electronic message and store the corresponding information. Upon receiving a sign-on request from a requesting device that is requesting access to one of the video and data services, the broadband digital terminal determines whether the requesting questing device is authorized to access the requested video or data service based on the stored information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of commonly assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/115,749, entitled, “METHOD AND SYSTEM FORPROVISIONING A SINGLE PHYSICAL BROADBAND DROP TO ACCOMMODATE MULTIPLEDEVICES”, filed on Jul. 15, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,090 by DonaldL. Brodigan, the entirety of which application is incorporated herein byreference for all purposes. This application is related to commonlyassigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/115,752, entitled, “METHODAND SYSTEM FOR PROVISIONING A SINGLE PHYSICAL BROADBAND DROP TOACCOMMODATE MULTIPLE SPECIFIC DEVICES”, filed on Jul. 15, 1998, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,526,582 by Donald L. Brodigan, and to commonly assigned U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/199,598, entitled, “METHOD AND SYSTEM FORPROVISIONING A SINGLE PHYSICAL BROADBAND DROP TO ACCOMMODATE MULTIPLESPECIFIC DEVICES”, filed on Jul. 19, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,488by Donald L. Brodigan, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/115,752, the entirety of which applications areincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to methods and systems for provisioning a singlephysical broadband drop to accommodate multiple devices withoutpreregistration of the devices.

BACKGROUND ART

Existing cable TV networks utilize a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (“HFC”)architecture that includes a fiber coaxial distribution network similarto a tree and branch architecture. All video channels are sent to thisHFC network for distribution throughout the network. The cable TVservice provider has a controller at the headend that is connected tothe HFC network and another connection through a Business SystemInterface (“BSI”) to a company that provides the platform form for theservice provider for provisioning the video service for the cable TV'scustomers.

Provisioning commands are sent from the platform company to thecontroller including a media access control (“MAC”) address of thecustomer's set-top-box (“STB”), which is purchased or leased from theservice provider, and the entitlements the customer has subscribed to.The controller then broadcasts this provisioning information over theHFC network to the STB having the MAC address specified in theprovisioning command. The customer's STB must be attached to the networkin order for it to receive the entitlements it has subscribed to. Thus,the STB can be anywhere on the network since it is not associated with asingle physical drop corresponding to the customer's home/place ofbusiness. Furthermore, anyone capable of duplicating the MAC address ofthe customer's STB can receive free service.

Some cable TV operators have chosen to use interdiction devices on theirHFC network which eliminates the need for the customer to have an STB.The interdiction devices, located at a pedestal serving several homes,are provisioned from a controller at the headend for entitlements basedon a physical drop. Any cable-ready TV connected to the drop is capableof receiving and viewing the provisioned entitlements. All otherchannels are filtered or modified at the interdiction device so thatthey cannot be view on that physical drop.

Interdiction devices, however, have several drawbacks. First, they aredesigned for analog cable TV and do not support digital MPEG video.Second, interdiction devices are designed for a single cable TV networkserving the customer. Thus, multiple video/data service providers arenot supported. And third, all devices on the physical drop associatedwith the corresponding interdiction device receive all the unfilteredchannels and entitlements. There is no ability to allow each device tohave its own specific entitlements.

Today's digital broadband architecture allows for multiple serviceproviders to serve a single customer belonging to a video/data network.However, as with the traditional cable TV network, video/dataentitlements can be provisioned for a single device. That device can belocated anywhere in the network, yet still be able to receive theprovisioned entitlements thereby opening the door for theft of services,especially if the MAC address of the device can be duplicated by anunauthorized customer. Furthermore, the customer must have the device atthe time of purchasing the video/data entitlements. A new or replacementdevice must be handled via a service order written to deactivate the olddevice and activate the new device.

Thus, there exists a need for a method of provisioning a physical dropto allow a customer to obtain access to video/data services based on thecustomer's address in a digital broadband architecture that overcomesthe disadvantages encountered by the known prior art.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide amethod and system for provisioning a single physical drop in a digitalbroadband architecture that allows a customer to obtain access tovideo/data services based on the customer's address.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method andsystem for provisioning a single physical drop to be able to obtainaccess to various video and data suppliers based on the customer'saddress.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a methodand system for provisioning a single physical drop so as to allow anydevice on the physical drop to receive video and/or data services.

In carrying out the above objects and other objects, features, andadvantages of the present invention, a method is provided for allowing aplurality of devices at a physical drop to receive access to videoand/or data services from a plurality of video/data service providers ina digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication servicesprovider wherein the plurality of service providers normally communicatewith the telecommunication services provider utilizing electronicmessages having predetermined formats as defined in a communicationsprotocol. The method includes transmitting a first electronic message ina modified format determined by the telecommunication services providerand containing first information identifying the physical drop, a typeof the device being provisioned at the physical drop, and a maximumnumber of devices for the device type allowed to receive correspondingservice at the physical drop, storing the first information at alocation servicing the physical drop, and upon receiving a sign-onrequest from a requesting device that is requesting access to one of thevideo and data services, determining whether the requesting device isauthorized to access the requested video or data service based on thestored first information.

In further carrying out the above objects and other objects, features,and advantages of the present invention, a system is also provided forcarrying out the steps of the above described method. The systemincludes a broadcast manager, in communication with the video and dataservice providers, for transmitting a first electronic message in amodified format determined by the telecommunication services providerwherein the first electronic message contains first informationidentifying the physical drop, a type of the device being provisioned atthe physical drop, and a maximum number of devices for the device typeallowed to receive corresponding service at the physical drop. Thesystem further includes a broadband digital terminal, in communicationwith the broadcast manager and the physical port, which is programmed toreceive the first electronic message, store the first information at alocation servicing the physical drop, and upon receiving a sign-onrequest from a requesting device that is requesting access to one of thevideo and data services, determine whether the requesting device isauthorized to access the requested video or data service based on thestored first information.

The above objects and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the best mode for carrying out the invention when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the general sequence of stepsassociated with the provisioning process of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the general sequence of stepsassociated with the sign-on process of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the system of the presentinvention, denoted generally by reference numeral 10. The system 10includes a headend portion 12 and a network portion 14. The headend 12includes a Business System Interface (“BSI”) 16 for interconnecting thenetwork 14 with a platform company serving a service provider. The BSI16 sends provisioning commands to the network 14 utilizing apredetermined format/protocol.

The headend 12 further includes video service providers 18 that providemotion video/audio data encoded according to MPEG 1 and 2 video encodingstandards. Examples of video service providers 18 include satellite MPEG2 video delivery (DSS Satellite and Primestar) as well as other cablecompanies moving towards digital cable TV technology.

Data service providers 20 are also included in the headend 12 forproviding data services. Data service providers may include serviceproviders such as America On-Line, Prodigy, Microsoft Network, MCI, andother internet and intranet data service providers as well as corporatedata service providers.

The network 14 includes a View 2 Broadcast Manager 22 in communicationwith the BSI 16 for receiving the provisioning commands and managingvideo and high speed data access at a customer's physical drop. Uponreceiving a provisioning command from the BSI 16, the broadcast manager22 creates a customer profile 24 that identifies the video channelentitlements that are associated with a specific physical drop serving aresidence or business. In the case of data services, the profile 24 isused to identify the data service provider 20. Asynchronous TransferMode (ATM) is used between the customer and the data service provider 20so as to provide a private line-like connection.

Video/data entitlements are then provisioned through the broadcastmanager 22 to a Broadband Digital Terminal (“BDT”) 26 serving thecustomer. The network 14 preferably includes a plurality of BDTs 26,each of which serve a plurality of customers. The number of customersserved is dependent upon the actual vendor's equipment. The BDT 26 iscoupled to the video and data service providers 18 and 20 so thatmultiple video and data service providers can be served on a sharedtransport. Data is established from the customer's physical drop throughthe BDT 26 to a data network and then to the appropriate data serviceprovider 20. In the case of video, the video service provider 18 sendsMPEG video through the data network to the BDT 26. The customer selectsa channel from their STB 27 to the BDT 26 to select the video channelthey want to watch, but is restricted to the channel entitlementsprovisioned in their profile 24. Thus, the BDT 26 is responsible forswitching the video and data provided by the video and data serviceproviders 18, 20 to the appropriate physical drop based on theprovisioned profile 24 transferred from the broadcast manager 22.

Each of the BDTs 26 includes a microprocessor 29 in communication withvarious computer readable storage media 31. Computer-readable storagemedia 31 may include various types of media or memories and may beimplemented utilizing any of a number of known hardware devices such asflash memory, PROMs, EEPROMs, and other electrical, electromagnetic, andoptical storage devices capable of storing data representinginstructions executable by a computer. As is known, computer-readablemedia 31 contain various program instructions, software, or controllogic to affect access to the service providers 18, 20. Microprocessor29 executes various instructions to generate output signals to each ofthe service providers 18, 20 based on signals received from the devices27 via a Broadband Network Unit (“BNU”) 28 or a Universal Service AccessMultiplexer (“USAM”) 30, as described below.

Each of the BDTs 26 are coupled to either a BNU 28 or a USAM 30. The BNU28 is a physical unit that is placed in the serving neighborhood and isconnected to the BDT 26 via a single fiber link. Typically, the BNU 28serves up to 16 homes or physical drops. A coaxial cable is run from aport (#1-16) on the BNU 28 to the home or business so that multipledevices on a single physical drop can have different entitlements. Atwisted copper pair running between the BNU 28 and a home or businessprovides telephone service.

The USAM 30 performs the same function as the BNU 28, but combines thevideo and data service on the same twisted copper pair as the voice, ortelephone, service. By providing video/data and voice on a single pairof wires to the customer, the total customers served is increased from16 to 32.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a flow diagram illustrating thegeneral sequence of steps associated with the provisioning process ofthe present invention. First, the customer orders video and/or dataservice from one of many video/data service providers servicing thecustomer's area, as shown at block 100. At this time, the customerprovides the video/data service provider(s) with one or more devices, orSTBs, for which she would like provisioned. Each device has a specificMAC address so that each device can be separately identified.

The video or data service provider then enters the video/dataentitlements in the BSI 16, as shown at block 110. At block 112, the BSI16 then transmits the entitlements to the broadcast manager 22identifying the physical drop to be provisioned. This information ispreferably transmitted utilizing the existing Jerrold communicationprotocol, specifically the Add New Settop 660 command. The Add NewSettop 660 command is utilized to add a new digital settop box andauthorize/deauthorize services for the settop box. This command containsthe following fields in addition to the STX, the packet header, theChecksum field, and the ETX:

Field Format BSI_Code 16-bit unsigned integer Headend_Number 16-bitunsigned integer Equip_Type 16-bit unsigned integer Equip_Sub_Type16-bit unsigned integer Serial_Number 12-character alphanumericUnit_Address 16-character alphanumeric Init_Flag 8-bit unsigned integerNum_Changed_Services 16-bit unsigned integer Service_Handle 32-bitunsigned integer

The BSI_Code and Headend_Number identify the video or data serviceprovider. The Equip_Type and Equip_Sub_Type codes identify the specificmanufacturer, model number, and software release of the STB or datadevice being provisioned. The Serial_Number field identifies the MACaddress of the STB/data device. The Service_Handle field is used tospecify the video or data entitlements the customer has subscribed to.The Unit_Address field specifies the unit address assigned to theSTB/data device by the manufacturer. Although these fields specifyentitlements provisioned for a specific STB/data device, none of them,alone or together, provide information so as to insure that the STB/datadevice is at the authorized physical drop and, if applicable, one ofmany devices authorized on the physical drop.

Therefore, in the present invention, both the Unit_Address field and theSerial_Number field are modified to identify the customer's address,while the actual entitlements remain controlled by the code in theService_Handle field. The Unit_Address is modified as follows:

-   xx xxxx xxxxxx xxx xx    where,    -   the first 2 Octet=State code identifying the state in which the        service is being provided;    -   the next 4 Octet=Common Language Circuit Identifier (“CLCI”)        identifying the serving wire center;    -   the next 6 Octet=BDT/BNU/Port identifying the physical location        of the customer's broadband drop;    -   the next 3 Octet=Service Wire Center identifying the central        office that provides dialtone to the physical drop; and    -   the next 2 Octet=a fixed value, e.g., U, due to limited field        length, but could be used for other features in the future.

The Serial_Number field is modified as follows:

-   xx xx xx xxx x x x    where,    -   the first 2 Octet=BDT servicing the physical drop;    -   the next 2 Octet=BNU/USAM number servicing the physical drop;    -   the next 2 Octet=Port corresponding to physical drop;    -   the next 3 Octet=Service Wire Center identifying the central        office that provides dialtone to the physical drop;    -   the next 1 Octet=Device Type, 0 for Video and 1 for Data; and    -   the next 2 Octet=Number of active simultaneous devices allowed        on the single physical drop. Each active simultaneous device is        identified at sign-on by the DAVIC 1.2 Specification Part 8.        Profile A, 7.6.2.1.4 Downstream Frame Header Byte 7 defines the        Data Link Address Value. The Data Link Address provides a Device        ID value range from 0 to 15. 0 is used by all users devices        (broadcast). If the Device ID is 15, the Data Link command shall        not be interpreted by any user device. This provides for a        maximum of 14 different devices addresses that can be used at        the same time on a single physical broadband drop.

In the preferred embodiment, the maximum active video devices is limitedto six. A single physical device may support multiple MPEG decoders.When a device logs onto the BDT 26, it is identified by the Equip_Typein a sign on request, described below. The Equip_Type is used toidentify the support of data on that device and/or the number of MPEGdecoders supported on that device. If a device attempts to sign onto thenetwork after the maximum device number has been reached, a negativeacknowledgment will be sent back identifying that the network resourceshave been exceeded. If a customer still wants a new box to be activethey must power down one of the other active devices prior to turning onthe new device. If the number of active devices allowed is decreased inthe future and the actual number of active devices exceed the newnumber, all devices will be logged off by the BDT 26. Each device mustthen re-sign on. When the maximum number of devices reaches the newmaximum number, any further sign on requests will be denied with anegative acknowledgment sent back identifying that the network resourceshave been exceeded.

The Serial_Number field duplicates the BDT, BNU/USAM number, Port, andService Wire Center coded in the Unit_Address field. The purpose of thiscoding is different from that of the Unit_Address field. If changes arerequired at a later date to specify the number of active devices forData or Channel entitlements for Video, a Change Settop Service 662command will be sent from the Service Provider Business System Interface16 to the broadcast manager 22. The Change Settop 662 command does nothave the Unit_Address Field, so this coding is used to inform broadcastmanager 22 of the physical drop profile being modified. If both Videoand Data device profiles were provisioned on the same physical drop, itwould also use the Device type coding to insure that the right profileis being modified.

The duplication of some of the Unit_Address field in the Serial_Numberfield is also required to provide the ability to delete or remove aprovisioned profile. The Delete Digital Settop (663) command does nothave the Unit_Address Field and requires the coding of the Serial_Numberfield to contain the physical drop identification as well as Device typeVideo/Data to insure the right profile is being deleted

A single physical drop will only have one of these profiles for video ordata. Thus, a physical drop will support both a video profile and a dataprofile at the same time.

Upon receiving the video/data entitlements, the broadcast managercreates a device profile for the customer's physical drop, as shown atblock 114. The device profile includes service provider information,entitlements, device type (or equipment type), physical dropidentification information, i.e., BDT, BNU/USAM and Port, device type,i.e., video or data, and number of active devices allowed.

A physical broadband drop can support multiple types of device profiles.That is, the physical drop may be provisioned to support a devicespecific profile identifying a specific device entitled to receivevideo/data services, as described in application entitled “Method andSystem For Provisioning A Single Physical Broadband Drop To AccommodateMultiple Specific Devices,” having Ser. No. 09/115,752, which is herebyincorporated in its entirety. For this type of device specific profile,only the Unit_Address field is modified, while the Serial_Number fieldis unchanged to include the MAC address of the specific device. Thephysical drop may also be provisioned to support a self-discoveryprofile, as provided by the present invention, in which both theUnit_Address field and the Serial_Number field are changed so that anypre-approved approved device may receive corresponding video/dataservices.

The device profiles are then transmitted by the broadcast manager 22 tothe appropriate BDT 26 identified in the Unit_Address and Serial_Numberfields, as shown at block 116. The BDT 26 identified in the Unit_Addressand Serial_Number fields correspond to the BDT 26 serving the customer'shome or place of business. Finally, access to the video/data servicesubscribed to by the customer is enabled, as shown at block 118.

Thus, the BDT 26 stores the device profile(s) associated with a singlephysical drop for use in allowing the customer to gain access to thesubscribed services. This process is further illustrated in the flowdiagram of FIG. 3. The device 27 uses the DAVIC 1.2 InterfaceInitialization Protocol (DiiP) to register with the network 14. Uponactivating the device 27, the device transmits a sign-on request,including the MAC address of the device 27, to the BDT 26, as shown atblock 200.

When the BDT 26 receives the sign-on request(s) from the device 27, theBDT 26 looks in a table for a device profile associated with thephysical drop from which the sign-on request originated to determine ifthe MAC address of the requesting device matches a MAC address stored ina device profile, as shown at block 210. If there is a match, the device27 is given access to the requested services, as shown at block 212.

If the MAC address does not match a pre-provisioned MAC address profile,the BDT 26 determines whether a self-discovery profile has beenestablished for the physical drop, as shown at block 214. If not, accessto the requested video/data services is denied, as shown at block 216.If, on the other hand, a self-discovery profile is established, themethod proceeds to determine if the maximum number of devices for thephysical drop is exceeded, as represented at conditional block 218. Ifso, access is denied.

If the maximum number of devices is not exceeded, the device is added tothe MAC address profile, i.e., device specific profile, as shown atblock 222. A device counter is incremented at this time. Finally, atblock 224, the device is given access to the requested video/dataservice.

While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been describedin detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relateswill recognize various alternative designs and embodiments forpracticing the invention as defined by the following claims.

1. A method of provisioning a plurality of devices at a single physicaldrop to receive telecommunications services, comprising: receiving at anetwork an electronic message from a head end, wherein the electronicmessage comprises: a first information field that specifiestelecommunication services which the devices at the single physical dropare entitled to receive; and a second information field that comprises,in modified format, information that identifies the single physicaldrop, wherein the second information field comprises a modified versionof a Unit_Address field of an Add New Settop command of the Jerroldcommunication protocol; creating a device profile associated with thesingle physical drop corresponding to the electronic message; andstoring the device profile.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theelectronic message further comprises a third information field thatcomprises a media access control (MAC) address of one of the pluralityof devices.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the third informationfield comprises a Serial_Number field of an Add New Settop command ofthe Jerrold communication protocol.
 4. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: receiving, from a device at the single physical drop, arequest to access telecommunication services, wherein the requestincludes a MAC address of the device; and checking the device profileassociated with the single physical drop for the MAC address.
 5. Asystem for provisioning a plurality of devices at a single physical dropto receive telecommunications services, comprising: a network, whereinthe network comprises: a broadcast manager that receives from a BusinessSystem Interface, an electronic message relating to an Add New Settopcommand of the Jerrold communication protocol, wherein the electronicmessage comprises: a Service_Handle field that specifiestelecommunication services which the plurality of devices at the singlephysical drop are entitled to receive; and a Unit_Address field thatcomprises, in modified format, information that identifies the singlephysical drop; a Broadband Digital Terminal operable to create a deviceprofile associated with the single physical drop corresponding to theelectronic message; and a storage arrangement that stores the deviceprofile.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic messagefurther comprises a Serial_Number field that comprises a media accesscontrol (MAC) address of one of the plurality of devices.
 7. The systemof claim 6, wherein the Broadband Digital Terminal is further operableto receive, from a device at the single physical drop, a request toaccess telecommunication services, wherein the request includes a MACaddress of the device; and wherein the Broadband Digital Terminal isfurther operable to check the device profile associated with the singlephysical drop for the MAC address.